Stuffer chute fill indicator

A stuffer cycle system for a baler, the system comprising:

• a stuffer comprising a moveable rake;
• a plunger assembly;
• a curvilinear duct defining a passageway, the duct having a lower inlet opening and an upper outlet opening, the duct comprising a lower surface with plural slots located proximal to the upper outlet opening, the duct comprising upper slots through which the rake is configured to sweep a charge material through the upper outlet opening for engagement with the plunger assembly;
• a controller;
• plural rotating devices arranged transversely across the duct, the plural rotating devices extending at least partially both through the plural slots and into the passageway, each of the plural rotating devices comprising plural fingers along the circumference of the rotating device to engage crop material in the duct, each of the rotating devices comprising a variable rotational resistance;
• and
• a sensor coupled to at least one of the plural rotating devices, the sensor configured to:
• sense a parameter corresponding to density of the crop material in the duct;
• and
• communicate a trigger signal to the controller responsive to a threshold value of the sensed parameter,
• wherein the controller is configured to receive the trigger signal, and responsively and sequentially cause actuation of the rake and the plunger assembly according to a single stuffer cycle.